U.S. government work is losing cachet for some

WASHINGTON — There was a time when being a federal employee meant a steady paycheck, great benefits and pride in serving the country.

But these days, many federal workers are frustrated, anxious and growing tired of being pawns in a never-ending political struggle over government funding.

“The pay has fallen behind, the uncertainty of having a job from day to day, the stability which was a drawing factor for a large portion of the people is gone now,” said Tommy Jackson, an Air Force acquisitions manager in Warner Robins, Ga., who has spent 30 years in government.

Jackson, 54, is going through his second furlough of the year. He and his wife, Debbie, also a government employee, lost about $6,000 in wages this year when they were furloughed for six days each. Now the shutdown, and he said they are considering options to move into the private sector.

Jackson spoke before the House voted 407-0 Saturday to reimburse federal workers for lost pay during the shutdown. The Senate has indicated that it will go along, and President Barack is expected to sign the bill.

For many, working for the government has long been a ticket to a middle-class lifestyle. Federal jobs offered flexibility, security, solid health care and pensions. Raises and promotions were common. Whatever happened to the economy, Uncle Sam never went bankrupt or threatened to close down.

But federal employees today are working under a three-year pay freeze. Earlier this year, many were furloughed when automatic spending cuts took hold, and about 800,000 were told not to report the money during the current shutdown. There are proposals in Congress to increase retirement contributions for government workers and politicians regularly lash out at federal workers as lazy, overpaid and unnecessary.

Federal employees are retiring at a faster rate this year than in 2012, according to the federal Office of Personnel Management. About 82,000 federal workers have filed retirement claims since January, up 30 percent from claims filed last year.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association says many workers are retiring prematurely because they worry about furloughs, the pay freeze pay and looming increases in retirement contributions.